
Repetitive calculations
› Frequency
› Complexity
› Different views

Analysis of data
› Explorative
› Manipulation
Column (letters)
Row
(numbers)
cell (letter-number)
workbook = collection of worksheets
 Label
– identification for people
 Constant – any format
› Text, number, picture, hyperlink, …
› Value for computer
› Format for people
 Formula
– uses cells & constants
› Always begins with =
› “takes the value of”
=cell
 Why do you use it?
 Fundamental Principle:

› Never have to change anything in two
places
› Variant of DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself)
 Copy-paste
› Fine if you really want a snapshot
› Does not work if data will change

Once you define the formula
› Can change the values as often as you like
› Automatically re-computes

Treats cells as variables
› Defined by location, not value
› Each cell constant or another formula

Example
› Pay = hourly rate * hours worked
 Values can change
 Formula remains the same

Want the same information for different
data
› Example: min, max, avg grades for each
assignment


Can use copy or fill
Copying a formula moves it relatively
 Bottom
right corner
› One cell copies
 Value exact
 Formula changes cells
› Multiple cells extrapolate

Absolute positioning
› Can lock the cell, column or row
 Cell: $A$1
 Column: $A1
 Row: A$1
› To change a reference to absolute
 Insert $
 PC: Use F4
 Mac: Cmd-T

Can simply click on a cell on another
sheet
› Check the results; easy to get the wrong cell
as you navigate between sheets.

Reference it using
SheetName!cell
Use constants when they will not change
 Values that won’t change:

› Computing the area of a circle
 Π r2
› Computing the area of a triangle
 ½ base*height

What about…
› Minutes in an hour?
› Days in the year?
Use directly in formulas
Or
 Place in cells

› Used frequently
› Precision: make sure it’s right!

Named elements are fixed locations
Name Box

Can use to name or manage names

Accessing:
› PC
Formulas -> Define Name
› Mac
Insert -> Name -> Define

Paste specials
› Values
› Transpose
› With and without formatting
ESC: This key is your friend
 Changing cell sizes
 Deletions and additions

Name spreadsheets (rename)
 Delete unused spreadsheets
 Separate input, computation, and
output

› Input: only page that you change
› Output: readability
› Computation: everything else